College Football Game of the Week: Ohio State @ Michigan

This weekend the premiere match-up is the rivalry game between #7 OSU vs #21 Michigan. The winner comes away as the Big-10 Champions and will receive the automatic bid into the Rose Bowl. The National Championship may not be on the line, but for these two teams the game is always the most anticipated of the year.

Continue on for the recap of the game as it was played through with NCAA Football 08. Also included are video highlights and screenshots via EA Sports World.

The game started out slowly for the Buckeyes who picked up a first down on the opening drive but were then forced to punt it away. Michigan came out clicking on all cylinders putting together a 12 play 73 yard drive which ended in a QB sneak for the TD by #7 Chad Henne.

Ohio State responded with an 11 play 57 yard drive for a 27 yard FG. The running game started off slow as Michigan’s defense line was getting into the backfield. The only success early came from running out of the shotgun.

Meanwhile Michigan RB #20 Mike Hart was picking up huge chunks on the ground. Ohio State really didn’t have an answer for him as he ended up with over 100 yards by halftime.

Early in the second quarter the tone of the game changed completely. Michigan was driving and were into the red zone when a swing pass to the FB #39 Michael Dougherty was caught but Ohio State DB #21 Anderson Russell laid a big hit on him causing a fumble. He picked it up himself and ran it all the way to the five yard line before being tripped up from behind.

After a run to the one, a false start on 2nd down took them back to the six. A swing pass to RB #28 Chris Wells got them back down to the one. They went for it on 4th down and Wells got it in on a toss to take a 10-7 lead.

On the ensuing drive, Henne threw an INT that was taken for the TD 51 yards by OSU CB #19. All of the sudden the Buckeyes had turned a game that looked promising for Michigan into what would have to be an uphill battle.

After a few three and outs by both teams, OSU QB #17 Todd Boeckman was picked up by Michigan safety #31 Brandent Englemon. However the Wolverines couldn’t convert it into points as they were forced to punt, successfully pinning OSU on their own three yard line.

After Wells was able to run for nine yards, he got it on second down and took it the rest of the way, all 88 yards for the TD.

Running the two minute offense, Henne marched the team down the field all the way to the one with only seconds remaining in the half, and Michigan opted for the FG to get within 2 TDs. The halftime score was 24-10.

Michigan was still in the game, but they couldn’t afford to drop behind by any more. That hope was crushed when OSU opened up the 2nd half with a 9 play, 92 yard drive capped off by a Boeckman to Wells 11 yard TD. Now the Buckeyes held a commanding 21 point lead.

Feeling the pressure Henne threw another INT this time to OSU LB #1 Marcus Freeman. A 35 yard FG attempt would go wide right.

Henne was in a tough position as the deficit took away the running game which had been working so well. This time though he came through throwing a slant to WR #86 Mario Manningham that he took 80 yards for the TD.

The game wasn’t quite over yet. Michigan forced a three and out, 5:51 remained in the game.

The hope was short lived though as the punt returner #5 Charles Stewart fumbled the ball and OSU recovered. They would tack on a FG after that.

Michgan drove down the field but Henne was picked off by Anderson Russell. That lead to a Wells TD run and a 41-17 score.

Henne took the team all the way down to the four yard line with seconds remaining but then threw yet another pick to end the game.

Turnovers were the key. Michigan had six of them and Ohio State capitalized on them.

Stats

Michigan: Chad Henne 21-33-309 TD 4 INT, Mike Hart 30-163, Mario Manningham 7-159 TD, Chris Graham 10 TKL 4 for loss 1 sack, Brandent Englemon 10 TKL INT

Ohio State: Todd Boeckman 17-23-171 TD INT, Chris Wells 26-182 3 TD 2 rec-23 TD, Brian Hartline 5-41, Anderson Russell 13 TKL 2 INT FF FR

Player/s of the Game: OSU’s Anderson Russell and Chris Wells